Qualified immigrants struggle to find work in New Zealand

It took Angel Huynh almost six years to get a job in her adopted country of New Zealand, with countless knockbacks along the way.

Angel, 31, emigrated from Ho-Chi Ming City, Vietnam, with her Kiwi husband after a successful career in Vietnam’s optical industry, starting as a salesperson and working her way up.

Angel Huynh, faced many setbacks upon her arrival in New Zealand. Photo: Tom Eley

But in New Zealand, she struggled to find a job. After countless employment rejection letters, she enrolled at Waikato University, and completed a Bachelor of Business Analysis in October last year.

Even with a degree Angel grew used to setbacks in her job hunt, with one firm telling her “We do not look at people with qualifications”.

It was only when she learnt about the Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust’s (HMS Trust) Migrant Employment Project that she was able to get some experience.

“With their help I got an opportunity as a voluntary intern with the finance manager of HMS Trust and was officially employed by the trust after finishing my internship.”

Angel now works part-time as finance administrator for the trust, which is based at the Waikato Migrant Resource Centre.

“I have learnt many valuable things through the MEP (Migrant Employment Project) workshops, especially how to use my work experience and interview skills to meet the Kiwi employers’ expectations,” she says.

She says it’s a good idea for new migrants to tap into events like this weekend’s Migrants Working Expo.

The expo is being held on Saturday, May 5, at the Wintec Atrium. The event, in its third year and supported by Wintec and the Office of Ethnic Affairs, has many seminars covering a range of employment-related topics.

Kylie Zinsli, of the Young Workers Research Centre, says the aim is to help immigrants get into business and also help them get the tools they need to succeed.

Meanwhile, despite her struggle to find work, Angel says she loves New Zealand, and she has a particular passion for pavlova.

And she has advice for new migrants: “Remember, there are various agencies in Hamilton who can help you to find work, but using your own skills and enthusiasm are also part of the techniques.

“Be patient and don’t give up, because every effort you put into finding a job is worth it, so keep trying – something will happen.”